1998•Traffic Safety on Two ContinentsPTRC Education and Research Services LimitedRequires access
EFFECT OF POLICE ENFORCEMENT ON DRIVERS' BEHAVIOR
Hashem R. Al‐Masaeid
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Abstract
Jordan has a serious road accident problem. Speeding, wrong overtaking, and ignoring obligation to stop are considered among the main causes of traffic accidents, especially on rural roads. This study investigated the effect of different police enforcement levels on drivers' behavior on two-lane rural roads. The study was conducted in cooperation with the Traffic Department, Public Security Headquarters, Jordan. The effect of police patrol equipped with/without speed gun-radar on speeding was investigated on five intercity and regional rural roads, and their results were contrasted with control sections and the case of no police presence. Free-flow speed measurements, in both directions of travel and at different distances from the police location, were acquired using car-following and speed gun-radar techniques. The wrong overtaking was observed on horizontal and vertical curves controlled by no-passing signs. The number of wrong overtaking, traffic flow, and average operating speed were observed under police enforcement and the case of no police presence with suitable cross-over period. The influences of police enforcement on drivers' behavior at T-intersections controlled by stop-sign were also investigated. The proportion of violators, hazard conflicts, and average speed of major traffic were considered as measures of police effectiveness, and they were compared with the control cases. Results of analyses demonstrated that police enforcement had significantly influenced speeding and percentage of violators in both directions of travel and for individual vehicle classes. Also, the results revealed that the influence was extended to about 1 km in each direction from the police location. Results of wrong overtaking study indicated that police enforcement had a great effect on proportion of violators, average speed, and speed variance. Finally, the results reported that the presence of police at T-intersections controlled by stop-sign had a positive impact on drivers' behavior, specifically on hazard conflicts and proportion of violators.